In our household, we have tested few arrangements before finding a routine that worked for the whole family and we are prepared to adapt again if necessary. The kids are particularly stressed, having lost their routines and social life from one day to the other. They miss their friends, they don’t know when they’ll meet grandparents again, and mom and dad are more stressed than usual. Unfortunately when children are stressed they are not on their best behaviour and that adds up to the list of triggers for us. I know. Deep breaths and loads of empathy, my friend.

Beside listing fun activities to keep the little ones active and engaged, I have rounded up some resources for you to help them face these challenges times. If this is a lot to process for us adults, imagine how massive it is for children. One day E (almost 5) confessed he was afraid the virus might jump out of nowhere and bite him. We have explained them that old people are most vulnerable and R immediately worried for her grandparents. U has been staying with us for over a month (a story for another post) but she’ll soon go back to her living facility and worries when she’ll see us again. It’s a lot to take in and we are their compass, their light in the darkness.

The World Health Organization has put together a series of tips in several languages for parents, including how to manage challenging behaviours and reduce children’s stress. They are a set of great tips gathered from top experts, I wholeheartedly recommend to check them out (and send them to friends!).

Kids are naturally curious and there’s nothing better than fighting uncertainty and anxiety with facts. Surely knowledge needs to be packaged in an age-appropriate way. I always find books a great way to convey messages to my children. Axel Scheffler, the artist who illustrated The Gruffalò, has published a free ebook to help parents explain the current crisis to their children. The book was so successful that it was quickly translated in over 17 languages (here in Italian).
If your child speaks English, you might enjoy the #CaringForEachOther initiative by Sesame Street: there is plenty of ideas and resources to support families during this crisis.
The School of Life has put together a series of free activities for children. This period can be an opportunity to explore and learn.

Mindfulness is another great tool to help children. I have been awful with my own meditation routine in the past months, but I know it works and it’s a fantastic way to stay grounded when anxiety tries to take the best of you. Luckily some kind souls have adapted mindfulness techniques for children. These are books I have read and I warmly recommend. You won’t need to read them whole, just pick some exercises and try them out:
Mindfulness for children by Uz Afzal;
Calm – mindfulness for kids by Wynne Kinder;
Yoga for kids by Susannah Hoffman (I recommend this one for kids who are more lively and physical).

Last but not least: regulate your own stress. Children have the finest sensors on their carers’ emotions. If you are travelling on negative frequencies, your kids will pick them up. Conversely, if you stay grounded, you help them do the same. Self-care is the word right now. Carve your own spaces, concede to activities that bring you joy, and pamper yourself.

These are stressful times, but challenges are always opportunities to grow. Stay safe and #stayathome.

The post #COVID19 Parenting Resources Roundup appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

What is the menstrual cup?

The menstrual cup is a cup made of silicone or latex rubber that is inserted in the vaginal canal to catch and collect period blood. Its insertion is similar to the vaginal ring, if you have ever used it: you fold the cup, insert in a comfortable position, and release. To remove it, pinch its extension and delicately pull. The cup comes in two sizes available (pre- and post vaginal birth). If you have special conditions and want to know more, check out this FAQ section.

An affordable and sustainable option

You can estimate how much money and waste a menstrual cup will save by using this online calculator. A cup There’s no doubt that it’s convenient both in terms of money and eco-friendliness. The cup annihilates the waste you’d produce with pads or tampons. A cup costs around 15-20 euros and lasts for years – accounts here vary. Some guidelines says to replace every year, but that’s definitely too short. I have been using mine for 4 and counting!

Does it work?

Being it, well, a plug, it ends up working better than tampons and pads. I find it convenient especially at night, even during the days when the flood is intense. After years of leaking on the bedsheets almost every month, it was refreshing not to! Sometime, however, my cup does leak. It may be because it’s not well inserted or because it’s full, but few drops – no more than that – have skipped out. This is why I feel most comfortable to combine with the usage of washable pads. When I combine the two, I never have accidents.

Is it convenient?

Definitely. For example, using the cup allows me to go swim utterly worry-free. Whenever I pack for a trip, I don’t have to use any luggage space for tampons or pads. I have stopped worrying about having tampons in the house, I’m always equipped.
The cup can last up to 12 hours, so you do not have to regularly find a place to change it when you are out of the house. Personally, I need to lie down to change it. This is another reason why I chose to have the washable pads as a further insurance. On a long work day, I remove it and finish the day with the washable pad. However, in theory you should be able to change it my standing, whatever feels comfortable for you.

Is it comfortable to use?

Putting the cup in or pulling it out does not bother me. For a long time, I did not feel it at all. In recent years I occasionally feel some light discomfort – the kind you feel only when you start thinking about it, you know. On such days, I use the cup only during nighttime and the washable pads during the day.
Tampons felt uncomfortable and occasionally pads would give me a rash. Nothing of the sort ever happened with the cup!

Where can you find it

There are several producers selling menstrual cups. Two renowned and respectable brands are Mooncup and Lunette (the latter based in Finland, btw). Nowadays, you can find menstrual cups from plenty of retailers, like eco-friendly stores (ex. Ruohonjuuri), pharmacies, sometime hypermarkets. You can buy one also online (ex. Myllymuksut, Amazon).

The menstrual cup is a fantastic everyday asset for women. We do not need pads or tampons anymore! Did you know about the cup? If not, will you give it a try? If you have questions or remarks, let me know in the comments section below.

The post Leave Tampons Behind – My Experience With The Menstrual Cup appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

An inspiring read: Becoming

Are you looking for the next book to read? Look no more. I was completely blown away by the celebrate Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming. Michelle shares about her family, her intense life before meeting Barack, and their long journey before they even entered the White House. Living under the spotlight for 8 years wasn’t easy. Her memoir is raw, honest, and even though she went through an incomparable experience, most women will relate. Because underneath it all, there’s a woman who fought all her life to be true to herself, find a balance among career, self-realisation, motherhood, and supporting her husband in a demanding career. You’ll love it. I recommend to buy the audiobook on Audible, narrated by Michelle herself. It’s so powerful to hear her story through her spoken words.

Learning new recipes with Yummly

I have recently discovered this fantastic recipe app and it has changed my life. This may sound dramatic, but hear me out. I am used to make a weekly menu every weekend. We are quite picky and don’t want to eat the same dishes over and over. I also appreciate learning new things and trying new flavours. On top of that, I have recently cut my meat intake and this has forced me to expand my vegetarian recipe collection. I have struggled with finding reliable recipe websites. Yummly is super convenient: you can filter recipes with many criteria – special diets, allergies, cooking time, ingredients to avoid, variety of ingredients, and so on. It’s very easy to save recipes to personal collections and dishes are realistic and tested (and reviewed by users!). I have found great new ideas we have tried, tested, and loved! Give it a try, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

A YouTube channel you need to subscribe to

Chris Ulmer was a special need teacher who, quite by chance, became a paladin for diversity and acceptance. His YouTube channel, Special Books by Special Kids (SBSK) now counts 1.5M subscribers. Chris tours the world to interview people of all ages who are living with different kinds of conditions. He gives them a platform to share how they live, love, and more. The channel also became a community, full of engaged supporters who connect with the interviewees to express solidarity and also politely ask questions about the different lifestyles and challenges. I have learned so much from Chris’ videos and I am sure you’ll love them as well.

A sweet animation series on Prime

This original Prime Video series for children is just so cute! Both my kids love it. Personally, I especially appreciate it comes dubbed in a bazillion languages, so it’s multicultural-family-friendly. It’s a story of friendship, positivity, and facing obstacles with imaginative solutions. In some ways, it reminds me of Curious George. I’m always on the lookout for stimulating content when it comes to screen time, and this is a good catch!

An introduction to minimalism

Don’t worry, I’m not here to convert you to minimalism. It’s not for everyone (definitely not for me). However, few months ago my family underwent an interesting change after watching this documentary on Netflix. I had been attracted to the idea of cutting on the amount of stuff we owned for a long time, but struggled to make consistent change. Watching that film together with my husband triggered a real conversation and we took it on to make some adjustments. In few weeks, we cleared the house of several boxes of pure junk. We made space where we didn’t think it was possible. If you are fascinated by doing something like that, the documentary Minimalism can be an easy start to learn more about how you can set your mind to act on it.

I hope you will enjoy these little pearls I have collected for you. If you find any of these useful or enjoyable, don’t forget to let me know. I love to hear your feedback. Have a great and sunny July!

The post My June 2019 Favorites appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

Light a candle

I never understood scented candles… until I tried good quality ones. As a busy mom, I learned to find joy in small things. Breathing in a pleasant smell puts me in a better mood. I love the ritual of lighting the candle and reminding myself I can take few seconds to make my day better. I have discovered the series WoodWick. They are exceptionally good candles: my medium-sized grapefruit candle lasted around 40 hours and the whole floor was filled with its scent. What makes them unique is their wooden wick that crackles like a fireplace. I bought mine on Amazon, but you can find it in Stockmann as well.

Wash your face

Now that you set the mood with a burning scented candle, indulge in washing the stressful day away off your face. I am nothing close to a beauty expert: I am never willing to spend much on cosmetics and I am always looking for the sweet spot in terms of quality/price ratio. I have now tried the Gisèle Denis cleaning gel and toner for three months and I am very impressed with them. What stroke me right away was the pleasant smell they leave on your skin. They do not leave my skin dry (an issue I had with other products!) and washing my face with them once or twice, I noticed a small improvement in my skin’s health and texture. You can find the Gisèle Denis line K-city markets or on Amazon.

Nourish your skin

An occasional treat for me is putting up a nourishing face mask. Recently, I discovered the Korean line by It’s Skin sold in K City Market (buy online). I love these masks’ smells and they do leave my skin visibly moisturised. Plus, their price is very reasonable!

Watch the adventures of a mom who gets it

While you wait for your face mask to soak into your skin, why not watch a cool TV series? Last fall Netflix aired the funny and real Australian show The Letdown, starring a woman who struggles to embrace motherhood. Her new mom friends have different family situations, approaches, personalities, difficulties. They find a way to stop comparisons and support each other. This show is the real deal! It doesn’t hold back on the frustrations or shocks of parenting. I really loved it and you will too!

Now metaphorically wash your face

Now that you are all pampered, why not start a new book? International bestseller Girl, wash your face by Rachel Hollis is an excellent choice. Rachel picks the false truths women are brought to believe and she dismantles them one by one. If you are a pro at self-demeaning thoughts like I am, you need this read. It’s an honest conversation, a reminder you are not alone in your struggles and how you should be compassionate towards yourself.

I hope you liked my suggestions to take care of yourself. What are your go-to things to cultivate joy and well-being in daily life? Leave me a comment here below.

The post February’s Favorites: Spoil Yourself appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

In eight years, I have build a network of convenient food suppliers I am most proud of. Italian cuisine is appreciated worldwide and many local friends have appreciated my advice on where to conveniently source ingredients, so I thought, why not summarise them in a post? Overall you will find anything in grocery shops, but if you use the ingredients listed here fairly often or want to buy a bigger bulk to split with friends, you will find better bargains from these vendors.

Pasta and risotto rice

Pasta is extremely cheap in Italy and 1kg of respectable quality pasta costs around 80 cents. The pasta you find in most Finnish shops is either low quality (I’m talking Torino, Pirkka, Baresa) or high-quality but expensive (Garofalo). Barilla and De Cecco represent a good compromise, but variety is extremely limited. I gave up to finding a deal comparable to Italy, but there’s a way to buy at a cheaper price than shops and be allowed to choose whatever pasta type you ever dreamed of. The De Cecco e-shop serves customer in English language, it ships to Finland and orders over 50 kg are entitled to free delivery. If you team up with a couple of friends, 50 kg are easy to top. In addition, pasta has long expiration time and can be stored for over a year (but do not keep it in cold storage, it gets damaged). You will find any type of pasta in there. The 3kg packages are the most convenient.
De Cecco e-shop is also where I buy my risotto rice. Risotto requires certain kinds of rice and the very best ones are considered to be Carnaroli and Vialone, the latter being cheaper.

Pasta sauces and pesto

Pasta toppings are one of the things I miss the most here. Ready-made sauces are an quick-and-easy solution, but I am not willing to compromise with what you find here. Don’t get me started on Dolmio… yuk! Moreover, the pesto brands you find in local shops barely include basil or pine nuts (can you even call them pesto?). Barilla produces good pasta, but its sauces are meh.
My go-to place is Eataly.net. Their website is fully in English and delivery of orders exceeding 69 euros is free. Eataly regularly change their offer and prices can really differ product by product (not all have convenient deals). I really love their pasta sauces, for instance the brands Il Vallino or Bonamici. The pesto sauces sold here are more expensive than the ones you find in shops but they are more intensely flavoured. For comparison, if you buy a 190g jar of pesto Saclà, it’s so bland you need to use it all to top four portions of pasta. With the same quantity of pesto from Italpesto from Eataly.net, you feed twice as many people (with better taste).

Tomato sauce

Between pasta and pizza, I estimate that our family uses 5L of tomato sauce a month. We appreciate most passata (the smooth one), but others prefer polpa (tomato sauce with finely chopped pieces). This is another thing not to go cheap on, since it’s such a dominant flavour in Italian dishes. You can find good brands in local shops (I appreciate Biona and Mutti), but personally I order from Eataly.net. My favourite brands of passata are Antonella, Dani Coop and Bonamici. Sometime these brands go out of stock and others are too expensive: in such case the tomato sauces from De Cecco e-shop are a good replacement.

Parmigiano / Parmesan cheese and olive oil

The local Italian association organises buying groups of different brands of olive oil once a year from trusted (and tested) Italian suppliers, on account of its members. Similarly, parmesan cheese is ordered three to four times a year. There is no minimum order nor additional fees, but you need to be a member of the association. Being a member entitles you to plenty of discounts in restaurants and shops as well, so the small membership fees pays off quickly if you are fond of Italian food. Ordering parmesan cheese from the association costs less than half what you would pay in any grocery shop (and quality is excellent).

Cold cuts (prosciutto, mortadella…)

The best quality / price ratio for these can be found in Lidl. Mortadella is part of the standard assortment, as well as salame, prosciutto crudo and often prosciutto cotto.

Everything else

If there’s something else you fancy and you are not able to find in general grocery stores (whose offer is quite wide nowadays), here’s a shortlist of local shops selling Italian products:
Signora Delizia (sauces, high-quality pasta, chocolate, seasonal products, the go-to place for panettone, pandoro and colomba)
Casa Italia (mostly cold cuts and cheese, sometime seasonal products…)
La Tartufata (sauces, high-quality pasta, chocolate…)
La Bottega 13 (cold cuts, cheese…)
Italian Herkut (everyday products, cookies…)
Hakaniemen kauppahalli (cold cuts, cheese…)
Vaelsa (fresh pasta)

I hope this list will help Italian cuisine’s fans in Finland to access ingredients more conveniently and easily. Did you appreciate this list? What’s your best supplier for your home-country foods in Finland? Share it in the comments down below.

The post Where to Purchase Italian Food Supplies in Finland appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

The list includes 25 books and I will write five posts throughout the year with our selection of children’s books. Our family reads in Finnish and Italian language, but some of our picks are in English and I translate on the fly. Beside the link to the HelMet (our library network) archive, whenever possible I’ll include the link to the same books in other languages to make sure you can enjoy them as well. If you’ll find my recommendations valuable, let me know in the comments below.  The year is almost over and so will be this series. If you wanna peek at my other recommendations, check out my previous posts: first, second, and third.

#16. Someone goes to school in the book

HelMet (ENG) | ENG
Even though it’s not the central topic of the book, this challenge gives me a chance to introduce you to a brilliant book which R, now 5, greatly appreciated: It’s hard to be five. R is a very compliant child (wish her little brother would try to imitate that) and I thought this book may give her space and words to express how she feels. I was totally right! She asked me to read it time after time! The story is narrated in first person by a new 5 year old. He has a baby brother and complains about the changes that took over after he turned five. For instance, why he has to walk anywhere, while his brother gets carried on a stroller? Why can’t he get dirty like in good ol’ times? It’s so tough to act responsible, he doesn’t feel small anymore and he’s not all ready to grow up. R went through a similar phase few weeks ago and I’m so glad I found this book for her! Authors Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell have published several successful books, mostly based on relationship and empowerment for children. You should check them out!

#17. Someone gets out of trouble in the book

HelMet (ENG) | ENG
When someone says trouble, I always think of Curious George! My kids love the animation series and I thought reading a book would be fun. In Curious George and the Pizza Party, George gets invited to a pizza party at a friend’s. He’s too impatient to bake his own pizza and while no one’s looking… well, the outcome is quite a parent’s nightmare, but George is as cute as ever and like every time he puts all the effort to solve the tricky situation. My nickname for E is “monkey” and between his small round head and his attraction for trying to execute his unconventional ideas, E is my little Curious George. We often joke about it in our house. E truly enjoys to watch George think and get out of trouble.

#18. The book cover has a vehicle on it

HelMet (FI)  | HelMet (SVE)| FI | ENG
We are in full “Fireman Sam’s phase” here, so we had to choose Paloauto Rientää Hätiin (English version: Fire Truck is Flashing). This was E’s favourite book in this batch and I’m pretty confident I can recite it by heart even if we read it in Finnish. In the story a fire breaks out in a city building and the fox firemen get ready, drive to the place, and save the day. There are other books in this series Busy Wheels by Mandy Archer, so if your child is more into ambulances, tractors, or spaceships, they’ll find the right book.

#19. The book has a pet in it

HelMet (ENG) | ENG
We recently got a cat and, as a natural consequence, the kids lost interest in our guinea pigs. I thought this challenge would be a nice opportunity to help them reconnect with our other pets and I found this lovely series called Zoe and Beans. We picked the story Hello Oscar. Zoe is a curious girl, Beans’ her inseparable dog friend. One day, they find a guinea pig in the garden… then another… then a turtle. What’s going on?
A perfect book for 3-5 years old, with big nice illustrations and not much text. Right away we ordered three new books of Zoe and Beans!

#20. The book is connected to a game

HelMet (ENG) | ENG
Being a geek, I had hoped to find some toddlers’ book connected to a videogame, but no way. We went more classic with Maisy Plays Football by Lucy Cousins. The Maisy series (Maisy was translated to Maisa in Finnish) is a classic in our house. The stories are perfect for 2-5 year olds and I love the colourful and simple pictures. There’s a book for every milestone: going to daycare, spending the night at a friend’s, going to the movies… but also stories about daily life and playing with friends. If you haven’t read any Maisy’s book, you definitely should!

The year is almost over and so will be this series soon. Stay tuned for the last post, the very last batch of books. It’s been so much fun to discover new books and watch my kids grow and appreciate new stories. If you have book recommendations, I’d love to hear them out: drop me a line down in the comments. Until next time :).

The post The Reading Challenge 2018, part IV appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

ResQ Club is an app which allows you to buy unsold meals from local restaurants for heavily discounted prices. We are extremely careful with leftovers being wasted in our own household, so when I’ve read about their pledge to reduce restaurant food waste, they had me at download. Beside being enticed by their company values, ResQ Club regularly helps us claiming back our family quality time.

Being working parents who don’t want to surrender to microwave meals, we end up spending 30 to 60 minutes cooking healthy food every night. This leaves little time and energy to play with our kids after dinner. So we resolved by sometime buying a high-quality family meal on ResQ Club on our way home from work and saving the cooking time for reading and playing with our children.

Mix salad, rice, veggie burgers, and lamb for the whole family from Bistro Cumulus for 15€ total.

As adoptive parents, we are committed to preserve our son’s birth culture and we do this also through food. I attended few courses on Indian cuisine and I aim to have Indian food served regularly in our family. However, time is what it is, and I’ve noticed I’m struggling to stick to my goals. ResQ Club came to the rescue also on this aspect of our family life. I found out one of my favourite Indian restaurants in town was selling through the app and now I feel less stressed about having to cook the food myself.

E enjoying butter chicken, naan, and rice from Tandoori Villa. The whole family dinner was 22€ and I even had leftovers of beef biryani for lunch the following day!

I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say “No thank you, I’ve had enough naan”.

Finally, there’s couple time. After working all day in demanding jobs, giving our best with the kids, we also need to find some space for ourselves as a couple. My husband has been pursuing his MBA degree for the past two years, which limits our time together greatly. Since we both love food, we used ResQ Club to have a romantic dinner at home. It was a great idea: it was cheap, we didn’t have to worry about finding and paying a babysitter (and we are not comfortable leaving E in someone’s else care yet), and we could slip into our pjs right after our date.

Two glorious 10x sushi portions for 10€ in total! Look at those beauties. We didn’t stare long ;).

Second course was fried chicken and veg noodles, another two portions for 10€ in total.

How does it work, you ask? Through the in-app map you can easily see which cafes or restaurants have available portions. You buy your meal and are required to go and pick it up before the place’s closing time. It’s as fast as a take-away: I always find my order ready to go, so I don’t even have to worry about parking my car.
And I have good news! If you join using the code QCJ-560, you will get 50% off your first order (in the app go to Settings > ResQ codes and insert the code). What are you waiting for? Download ResQ Club from the App Store or Google Play, relax and enjoy your family meal!

Disclaimer: the meals described above were kindly sponsored by ResQ Club, but opinions are mine and honest. Read about my values and my commitment to transparency here.

The post How ResQ Club is giving us back our family quality time appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

Zootopia

Animation movie | Year 2016 | Disney | IMDB | HelMet link | Age rating (Finland): K7
I loved it! The movie is set into a imaginary evolved society populated by animals only, mainly divided between predators and prey, who seemingly coexist in peace – even though clearly the former have more privileges. The main character is a female bunny who dreams of becoming a cop, a profession normally associated to predators only. The setting is completely new, the plot is rich and full of unexpected twists. As the mum of a daughter, I was glad that the main character was female. Also, the story was built around the fact that everyone was telling her she could not do follow her dreams and she would prove them all wrong. Needless to say, at the end of the movie R. wanted to be that bunny.

Kubo And The Two Strings

Animation movie | Year 2016 | Laika Ent. | IMDB | HelMet link | Age rating (Finland): K7
After watching this, I started recommending it to adults as well. A word of warning: even though the rating is K7 (which means it’s fine for 4-year-olds if accompanied by an adult), I suggest to show it to kids who are at least five or even older if they can be easily scared. The movie is just amazing, but there are some scenes which can be a little too creepy for small children. This is the story of Kubo, young son of a dead samurai warrior and a mysterious (magical?) woman, who cares for him – or, better, they care for each other as she seems to forget her own identity from time to time. Kubo plays his instrument and can work magic with it. His mother insists he doesn’t go out when it’s dark or they will find him. One day Kubo runs late and the night finds him…
Seriously, this movie is a masterpiece, no wonder it was nominated for two Academy Awards!

Brave

Animation movie | Year 2012 | Disney | IMDB | HelMet link | Age rating (Finland): K7
Dear mum, this is the movie to watch with your daughter. Fine, dad and sons can join too. This is such an empowering movie for girls. Merida is a princess in old times’ Scotland. Her mother tries to teach her the ways of royalty, but the girl only dreams of riding her horse in the woods and shoots arrows with her bow. When her parents try to marry her to one of the other clans’ heirs, she escapes and, after running into a witch, she asks for a wish to be fulfilled. But you always have to be careful what you wish for.
Finally a princess which is not all butterflies and flowers. She’s kick-ass, courageous, and cool. Plus, there’s a strong theme of mother-daughter love all over the place. Word of advice, keep the tissues close by.

The Little Prince

Animation movie | Year 2015 | Onyx film | IMDB | HelMet link | Age rating (Finland): K7
Well, should I even comment? The Little Prince is a classic story, one of the best ever told. It’s a story meant for everyone, adults and children alike. What you read into it changes along with your age. The movie is inspired by the book, but has more to it. The central plot is actually about a girl pressured by her mother into hard studying and working to become a “great grown-up”. The girl meets an eccentric neighbour who indirectly challenges her to wonder if there’s more to life and childhood. The old man sends pieces of The Little Prince’s story to the girl, stimulating her imagination, and her childish desire of freedom and play. It’s a colourful, different, surprising story. It will make you wish you were still a child. Maybe it will make you question how you parent your child. Great movie. I must warn you that it contains the theme of death so, if you decide to watch it, be prepared to discuss it.

Monsters University

Animation movie | Year 2013 | Disney | IMDB | HelMet link | Age rating (Finland): K7
This is a funny and warming story about friendship and reaching your own goals, despite other people’s expectations. The movie is set in a world of monsters, where the most talented train at universities to become scary. A funny-looking monster wants to go college despite not being scary at all. He meets a talented but less motivated fellow. They don’t see eye to eye at first, but end up joining forces after several twists. It’s a nice lesson on self-motivation, persistence, effects of bullying, and friendship. And it’s fun.

Here you go, now you have the movie suggestions. Time to heat up some corn and enjoy a cosy night with your little one(s). Have fun!

The post Movie night with toddlers: best movies appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

1. Peikkopolku – Troll trail

Price: 19.95 €
Age: 4+
Players: 2-4
Buy: Lautapeli.fi.
Loan: Peikkopolku in HelMet.
My absolute favourite so far! It has the perfect balance between luck and strategy for a toddler. All players have to cooperate to win against a dragon. There are some tiles to randomly choose, which either help the dragon or the players. Players have to use the favourable tiles to build a path to get to the treasure chest before the dragon. In the path, they have to collect some items. The strategy lies into building a smart path to be fast, as well as collect the necessary items. In other words, also adults need to use their brains!

2. Hepan hirnahdus – Clippety cloppety

Price: 22.90 €
Age: 3+
Players: 2-4
Buy: Lautapeli.fi.
Loan: Hepan hirnahdus in HelMet.
This is a well-balanced game as well. The setting is the following: horses need to go back to their stable following a trail. During their path, they need to collect some necessary items. The games includes some extra pieces to play up to 3 variations of the game and add complexity if needed. The child needs to balance between speed and collecting the tokens. R. loves it and asks to play it every day since when we loaned it!

3. Muumipeikko ja ystävät – Moomintroll and friends

Price: 19.95 €
Age: 3+
Players: 2-6
Buy: Lautapeli.fi.
Loan: Muumipeikko ja ystävät in HelMet.
I am generally not a fan of the boardgames branded “Muumi”, since I have tried many and disliked them. However, this is great! There are several covered tiles on the board, in three shapes: circle, triangle, and square. Each player has an assigned color/character and needs to find the three tiles of the same color. At each round, a player throws a die numbered from 1 to 3 and moves a token on a circular path, getting on a shape symbol. Then he can draw a tile of the same shape, hoping to find the one of his own color. Whoever finds his three tiles first, wins. So, there’s shape recognition and even a little “memory”, since if someone else draws a shape with your color, you need to remember where they put it back when your turn comes.

This is my best advice for boardgames for toddlers, so far. I am sure I’ll write more about the topic in the future, since we keep on trying new things. Boardgames allow families to spend quality time together, and toddlers to learn new things by having fun and improve sociality. So, get out there and find you favourite game!

The post 3 boardgames you and your toddler will love appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

1. A smart changing bag

Once I have read that parenting is 90% poo stories. Nothing is closer to the truth. When I had my first child, I luckily inherited a changing bag with a second-hand stroller I bought. I still have it and it saved me so many times! For the first year, parents have to always carry around a bag of amenities and necessary items: food, nappies, wipes, pacifier(s), etc.. My old bag had something extremely valuable: a changing mat attached! I used it so many times when I needed to change my baby in the most unusual places.
Pros: a most needed gift, forever-lasting.
Cons: pricey gift.
Tip: choose a bag with a changing mat included, several pockets, and an easy way to attach it to a stroller handle.

2. A soft bib

This bib made in silicon is a parent’s best friend, way better than the “dressing” bibs which you find, for instance, at IKEA. It’s easy to wash and dry, and saves the floor when a baby is eating. Several brands sell soft bibs and prices vary.
Pros: long-lasting, low price.
Cons: I cannot find any!
Tip: check the closing part of the bib. Babies tend to try to pull it away and you want it to be resistant.

3. A baby carrier

Baby carriers are the best baby shower gifts! I used mine to travel with a small baby, as well as for trekking trips, and even to cook meals at home with my hands free!
Pros: great of every parent’s lifestyle.
Cons: pricey.
Tip: find a multi-use carrier, one that can carry a small baby as well as a toddler. My personal choice is Stokke, they have several items available. You want it to be safe and easy to use.

4. Stroller accessories

The new parents will use strollers a lot. Why not giving them some useful accessories as a baby shower gift? Here are my favs, with links:
– shopping bag hooks
– mug holder
– stroller organiser
– cellphone holder
I know the latter calls for tech addiction, but I actually used the phone often when I strolled to follow maps or to listen to music/podcasts when the baby sleeps. These gifts will turn out incredibly useful, believe me!
Pros: low-price, multiple usage.
Cons: none, in my opinion.
Tip: choose them to be as universal as possible. They will buy more than one stroller for sure!

5. The Bumbo seat

What the heck is this – you are surely wondering. Well, this is what allowed me to shower for several months! This floor seat works well as a portable feeding seat, as well as a safe place to hold the baby still while you do something else. It’s not that easy to carry around, but it’s waterproof and easy to wash.
Pros: long-lasting, easy to wash, multiple usage.
Cons: expensive (about 50€).
Tip: if you live in Finland, try to find a used one. It’s very popular and there are some always on sale.

So here you are, several useful and nice gifts, with very different price tags. I hope I will make some parents happy and some baby shower guests relieved.

The post My 5 best baby shower gifts appeared first on The Elephant Mum.